In Hong Kong, parental involvement in children's education has evolved significantly since the introduction of the "School Management Initiative" in 1991, which first recognised parents' active roles in school governance. The 2021 Curriculum Framework on Parent Education further emphasised collaborative practices and holistic child development. Globally,technology is recognised as a valuable tool for enhancing parent education and home-school communication. This study investigates the use of digital tools for parent education by in-service early childhood educators in Hong Kong, focusing on their experiences, attitudes, and challenges. A total of around 100 educators enrolled in an early childhood education (ECE) degree programme participated, with data collected through questionnaires and qualitative interviews with 10 educators. Findings revealed that 84.9% of participants used technology for parent education, with video conferencing platforms and parent-targeted communication apps being the most popular tools. Despite the increasing importance of technology in enhancing parental engagement and communication, educators reported moderate digital literacy (M = 5.26) and ease of use(M = 5.27). This indicates a gap between the perceived necessity of technology and educators’ confidence in using it effectively. Challenges such as lack of time, inadequate training, limited resources, and insufficient institutional support were identified as barriers to effective utilisation. The study highlights the importance need for structured, ongoing training programmes and improved institutional support to enhance educators' digital competency and confidence. Findings suggest that policymakers and institutions should design targeted initiatives to address these barriers, ensuring effective integration and optimal use of technology in parent education.

Authors:
Wing Hei Yip, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Chloe Yip is a Lecturer of School of Education & Languages at Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong. Her general interests are play-based learning and parent education. Currently, she conducts some projects related to the use of AI.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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